The past decade was a defining time for the global logistics industry that saw the sector grow tremendously. It is the decade that saw the introduction of various aspects that made the industry improve while also introducing different challenges that were never seen before. Advancements in technology strengthened the capabilities and operations in logistics such as packaging, labeling, and shipping while also introducing challenges such as loss of job and security concerns. As we begin a new year, these are the trends that will shape the supply chain industry going forward.

Almost everything that we buy in stores; what we eat, wear or entertain ourselves with at home, go through a supply chain. This makes businesses that make these products among the top GDP contributors. However, the main problem that companies in this sector face is the high cost of moving products through a supply chain from one point to another. That is the leading reason why many companies are looking for ways to improve their supply chain processes and save money. Emerging technology is a perfect answer to this.

In the current connected world, the supply chain faces a wide range of threats, both physical and cyber. The two have different implications for organizations. While physical threats can be more obvious and blatant in supply chains, cybersecurity threats are less noticeable and highly unpredictable and as such, they can cause massive damage to an organization. Think of terrorists attacking oil infrastructure and interfering with the supply chain. This is supply chain terrorism that is now one of the worst crimes. For this reason, the Federal Communications Commission has come up with new rules that regulate telecommunications devices that are used in the US. The recent action included the reduction of telecom infrastructure from China. This move is geared towards identifying, evaluating and addressing transactions that involve these hardware devices.